So much for rest and relaxation, Christian thought, shivering a little as the group reached the outdoor steerage recreation area. The men sat on one of the empty benches so they could keep a close eye on their children, who, at the moment, were playing a game of tag.
"So, what do you write?" Bert asked, as the girls chased each other in circles around the bench, giggling and trying to catch each other.
"Well, I wrote a play for the Moulin Rouge in Paris, but it really isn’t famous anywhere else. I’m not even sure if it’s famous there," he added, trying not to sound haughty. Bert nodded in understanding, retrieving his pipe from his trouser pocket and lighting it.
"The Moulin Rouge, eh?" He took a puff, blowing a few white rings into the air. "That’s the dancin’ theater in Paris, isn’t it?"
Christian nodded, glancing down as Charlotte finally decided she’d had enough running and sat on the wood. She hugged his legs, fingering the laces of his boots. Christian hoisted her onto his lap, nuzzling her cheek, and Cora climbed onto Bert’s lap.
"I want to explore the ship!" Charlotte exclaimed, bouncing up and down, giggling as her father kissed her up and down her neck. "Father! Father, stop it!" She sighed with contentment as he wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on top of her head.
"Exploring?"
Charlotte nodded. "Please? And if I can, can Cora come, too? I promise I’ll take good care of her and not let her get into any scrapes."
Cora’s face lit up with interest at the idea, and her eyes grew large with hope. Christian glanced at Bert, smiling. "What do you think?" he asked, and Bert lowered his pipe, nodding.
"I don’t see why not."
Both of the girls squealed with delight, hopping down again. "Take good care of each other now," Christian told them firmly. "And do not go too far."
"The gates are locked, so do not try to go to the other decks. You will only be able to explore steerage," Bert added, and Charlotte put an arm around Cora.
"We’ll be good."
Christian winked, and the girls immediately took off, thrilled at their newfound independence. "Wherever shall we go first?" Cora asked as they skipped down the deck, hurrying over to the rail to peer down at the sapphire blue ocean. People strolled past them, talking in calm, cheerful voices, and other children dashed about, calling to one another.
"I dunno. Oh…let’s see what the dining room looks like! I’m getting hungry, and I bet lunch will be served soon!"
Cora nodded, tagging along behind Charlotte, her thick brown curls blowing in the wind. They found a passageway and walked through it, and saw a pair of double doors with two large windows. As neither of the girls was tall enough to peer through them, Charlotte pushed one door open quietly, peeping into the room. It was dimly lit with dozens of tables, and she could just barely make out a dance floor in the center.
"Let me see!" Cora begged, poking her head under Charlotte’s arm. The sight of the girls amused passersby, but they didn’t care. "It’s really big!" Cora backed away and allowed Charlotte to shut the door again, before giggling at her suddenly growling stomach. Charlotte blinked at the noise and pointed at the younger girl, grinning.
"Was that you?" she asked, and Cora nodded, hugging her arms around herself, and both girls were soon laughing hysterically.
"Yes, it was." Cora bit her lip, blushing, and Charlotte merely smiled as they made their way back to the main deck.
They’d just turned the bend when Charlotte nearly ran right into two men who were going in the same direction. She gasped in shock, muttering, "I’m sorry, sir," before starting to move on. However, something struck her, causing her to stop dead in her tracks, and she whirled around. The man she’d run into did the same, and both of them stared at each other for a good while.
"Jack!" Charlotte suddenly squealed, once she finally recognized who the man was, and she leapt right into his arms. Cora stared as he swung her around, laughing.
"I thought I knew you!" he exclaimed, glancing down. "Hey, kid, who’s your friend?" he added, and Charlotte looked at Cora, who was nearly as red as an apple now. She seemed ready to hide at the moment, but she stood right where she was. The man named Jack was the handsomest fellow she’d ever seen, and all she could do when she opened her mouth was let out a tiny squeak.
"Her name is Cora," Charlotte replied, and Jack extended his free hand.
"A pleasure, Cora," he told her, and Cora took the offered hand, feeling like a limp noodle as he shook it. "Jack Dawson."
"H-Hello, Jack." She spoke up at last, curtsying once she gathered her wits.
"Now, where were you girls off to all by yourselves? Not getting into mischief, I hope."
"No." Charlotte giggled as he set her down. "Our fathers are letting us explore the ship. They’re sitting down in that big area with all of those benches outside."
Jack glanced at Fabrizio. "Shall we let you two continue exploring, or would you like to walk with us?" he asked, and Charlotte was immediately torn about what to do. She wanted to walk with Jack, but she also wanted to enjoy the freedom her father had given her. So she came up with an even better idea, which she hoped he would agree to.
"I still want to go exploring," she insisted, "but can you come with us?"
Jack chuckled. "I think that can be arranged. What have you girls seen so far?" he asked, folding his arms. "Ah…I’m sorry…Cora, this is my good friend, Fabrizio di Rossi. And Charlotte, you already know him from the pub, I’m sure."
Charlotte nodded, and Cora curtsied to him, as well. "I remember. Hello."
Fabrizio shook her hand, and the four continued down the deck. "Are you married, Jack?" Cora suddenly blurted out, causing everyone to turn and gape at her.
"No," Jack answered. "I’m not married."
"How come?" Charlotte did a bit of a dance, hopped, skipped, and jumped ahead.
Jack shrugged. "I’ve just never settled down long enough to meet anyone."
"Oh." Cora chewed on her lip, deciding not to continue this particular conversation any further. They soon reached the third class general room, which was a cozy place filled with pine-based furniture. The chairs were cushioned and comfortable-looking, and a bright fire blazed in the fireplace. A few passengers sat at a coffee table playing cards, while a young woman sat in the corner, reading. Her hair was long and blonde, curling a bit at the bottom, and her eyes were blue. She did not notice the intruders at first, but finally seemed to sense that someone was watching her. The woman looked up, smiling softly, gave a little wave, and continued reading.
"She’s a nice lady," Charlotte thought out loud once they left, and immediately thought her father might like to meet her. She could tell he was lonely without her mother, that he needed someone to love again. The group strolled along, just chatting and peering into the different rooms available for steerage passengers. Nothing was as elaborate as what they had in first class, they were sure, but they were quite satisfied with what they did have.
"So, what do you do?" Charlotte asked as they made their way back to the recreation area, for the girls were starting to get a bit chilly. She hugged Jack’s jacket around her, ten sizes too big, and smiled as Fabrizio lent Cora his own coat. On Cora it was like a quilt, and the little girl had to shift it around to avoid tripping.
"Well, not one particular thing," Jack replied, "though art is my real passion." He presented the sketchpad and pencil pouch to her, which she examined closely with interest.
"My father’s a writer," she added through chattering teeth.
"Really?" Jack cocked his head to one side. "Has he published anything yet?"
Charlotte shook her head. "Not really. He told me he wrote a play for the Moulin Rouge in Paris, but that was about it."
Jack blinked. "What was it called? I’ve been to the Moulin Rouge…years ago, though In fact, it was one of the first places I traveled to in 1900 when I left home."
"You might have seen it! It was called Spectacular, Spectacular!" Charlotte beamed, her eyes sparkling as they approached the cluster of benches. Christian still sat with Bert, and the two were emerged in friendly conversation.
"He wrote that?"
Charlotte nodded, bouncing a little. "My mother was the star of it!" she exclaimed. Jack thought for a moment, as though he’d just remembered something, and he asked Charlotte if he could look through his sketches real fast. "Her name was Satine."
"Hang on a moment." He flipped the pieces of parchment until he came to a particular one of a gorgeous woman, tall and slim and wearing an exquisite gown. He handed it to Charlotte, and nodded towards the drawing. "Is this her?"
Charlotte stared at it for a long while, and she gasped. "It is her! Yes, yes, you have her name here!" She pointed to the hastily scribbled Satine, October 8, 1900, JD. "When did you do the drawing?"
Jack smiled as he took the drawing back, putting it in the front so he could show it to Christian later. "Well, I was just walking past the Moulin Rouge one day when I saw this beautiful woman come out. She was absolutely amazing, her features so perfect that I asked if she might spare a moment and pose for a drawing. I remember her telling me, "Of course, dear!" and patiently obeying when I asked her to pose. Wow. Small world, huh?" He looked at Fabrizio, who nodded in agreement.
"Papa!" Charlotte called, catching Christian’s attention, and he nearly did a double take when Jack and Fabrizio approached the bench he and Bert sat on. Immediately, he stood and went to shake hands with both of them, chuckling at the sight of his daughter in the oversized coat.
"Congratulations on your win," he told Jack with a nod.
"Thanks." Jack accepted the coat back from Charlotte, who immediately went into her father’s arms for warmth, and Cora followed suit. Christian held her close, rubbing her arms and touching his cheek to hers.
"You’re a little icicle!" he whispered, and she giggled.
"I’m not an icicle," she protested as they made their way indoors for the warmth.
"So Christian, your daughter tells me you wrote Spectacular, Spectacular for the Moulin Rouge," Jack said as they headed for the dining saloon for lunch.
"She did, eh?" Christian pinched Charlotte’s cheek playfully, and she only licked him on the nose in response. "Charming!" he chuckled, wiping it, and she only gave him a playful smile back. "And it was nothing really, Jack," he insisted, with a wave of his hand.
"It was really brilliant, Christian."
Christian looked at him. "You saw it, then?" he asked, surprised, and Jack nodded.
"I did. And, when we get to the saloon, you might want to see a drawing of mine…I have a feeling it may interest you."
Christian set Charlotte down as they pushed the doors open to the saloon, and Charlotte gasped as she saw it in a closer view. "Right over there looks good." Bert pointed to a table in the corner, and they immediately went to claim it before people started arriving. Christian removed his hat and put it on Charlotte, who stood still as it covered her eyes.
"Can’t see!" she exclaimed, making everyone laugh as she quickly removed it, bowing low and pretending to use it as a dance prop.
"All right, little miss." Christian snickered as he took the hat and set it on the back of his chair. "Up you go." He put her in one of the empty chairs beside him, and looked at Jack. "So, what did you want to show me?"
Jack hesitated, not sure this was the time to bring skeletons out of the closet. Finally, he shook his head. "Nothing important."
Christian raised an eyebrow and shrugged. When a waiter came to their table, Jack ordered a round of beers and tea for the girls. "I would like honey in mine." Charlotte spoke boldly, and Christian smiled softly at her.
"Please," he whispered, and she nodded.
"Please."
The waiter chuckled, writing down their orders, and went to get the drinks. "So, what were you doing in Europe, Jack?" Christian asked. Most of the time, Europeans were escaping to come to the states.
"Art," he replied. "I’m an artist."
Christian glanced at the sketchbook sitting at his elbow. "Are those some of your drawings?" Charlotte looked at her father, kissing his arm comfortingly.
"Some of them…" Jack cleared his throat.
"May I have a look?"
Jack decided it couldn’t hurt to show him after all, and passed the book over. "If it’s too personal, you don’t have…" Christian began, but Jack waved his hand to encourage him to continue.
"Go on."
Christian opened the book, and the first sketch caused his heard to stop in mid-beat. Jack held his breath as Christian sat staring at it. It couldn’t be.
"Are you all right?" Bert asked, and Christian immediately shut the book, sliding it back to Jack.
"I can…I can’t. I’m sorry. Excuse me." He got out of his chair, to Charlotte’s surprise and hurried out of the room. Jack sighed, shaking his head.
"Jesus. I’ll be right back…Charlotte, stay here. He’ll be fine." Jack gave the young girl a pat on the head as he followed after Christian, calling his name when he saw him only a few feet ahead.
"Christian, wait!"
Christian stopped at last, turning around. His dark eyes were filled with tears, and his face pale. "How did you know my wife? She never spoke about having her…portrait done!"
Jack shook his head. "Nothing happened," he insisted. "I was walking past the Moulin Rouge when she was coming out of it, and I asked if I could draw her, because I didn’t know what I was going to use for a new subject."
Christian cocked his head to one side. He finally smiled, knowing he could believe Jack.
"It was well done, Jack. I’m sorry…I still miss her so much, and it was just a bit of a shock…you must have been what, seventeen when you drew that?"
Jack nodded. "That’s right. Now, are you sure you’re fine?"
Christian chuckled. "Yes, thank you. I think I can return now. Charlotte must think I’ve lost my mind." He walked side by side with Jack, feeling much better now that he’d gotten a breath of fresh air.
Don’t worry, darling. Satine’s sweet whisper filled his head yet again. For I am here.